It was a Blue Jays bonanza yesterday as several Blue Jays’ farmhands saw action in the Arizona Fall League, including all four of the pitchers who are with the Mesa Solar Sox.
Sean Nolin got the start for the Solar Sox and promptly retired the first three batters he faced, two on called strikes. In the top of the second, things were more difficult for Nolin as he walked the first batter and the second reached on an error by New Hampshire Fisher Cats MVP Jon Berti. Nolin retired the next two batters (including Minnesota Twins outfield prospect Max Kepler), hit a batter with a pitch but got a ground out with the bases loaded to end the inning without any damage. That ended Nolin’s day as the Jays’ Roberto Osuna entered the game in the third.
Osuna also struck out the first batter he saw who took a third strike and he managed to get the remaining two outs after an Eddie Rosario single including a swinging strikeout of Peter O’Brien who hit 34 home runs this season between the Yankees and Diamondbacks organizations.
Osuna’s next inning was an unmitigated disaster. He gave up a solo home run to start the innings and allowed two more consecutive singles followed by a sacrifice fly. A wild pitch allowed a third run to score and the next three batters went walk, single, single and Dunedin teammate Arik Sikula came on to relieve him.
Sikula allowed Ryan Casteel to hit a double, driving in two more to bring Osuna’s charged runs to six. Sikula got the next two batters out to finish his day.
Blake McFarland pitched the ninth inning, allowing a double to Ryan Casteel and walking Peter O’Brien before getting a fly out and a double play to end the game for pitching side of things.
Dalton Pompey had a good game, going 2/3 with a pair of stolen bases while Jon Berti was 1/3 with a run, two walk and a stolen base but also committed an error. Sean Ochinko had a single, driving in a run in his only plate appearance but was lifted in the top of the inning. Word is that he might have injured a hamstring but nothing is definite.
After this game, a 7-3 loss to the Salt River Rafters (which hosted the Blue Jays players last season), all of the Blue Jays’ farmhands have made it into a game with the exception of Dwight Smith, Jr.
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All photos are copyright Blue Jays from Away (2013-2014) and may not be used without permission.